Managing an early-stage startup is already a challenge. But once it's accepted you have no way back (unless you are ready to fail). Your operational efficiency can make or break success. However, if you know what you're dealing with, all the tricky spots might become opportunities to grow.
There are different approaches to organizing internal processes. But in the era of digitalization, it is hardly possible to imagine seamless business procedures without automated workflows and powerful tools that will facilitate numerous tasks for your team members.
Where can you find all this?
One of the best solutions for startups can become the Retool platform. And in this article, we are going to explain how it can drive your startup's success. Moreover, we will share how you can start your journey with this platform absolutely for free. (Spoiler: This option is available only to eligible startups.)
What is Retool good for?
Retool is great for quickly building internal tools for different industries. But what makes it really valuable is that the development of custom internal tools doesn't require the necessity to code everything from scratch.
It allows developers and business users to create apps with a drag-and-drop UI and connect them to databases, APIs, and third-party services just in a few clicks.
Additionally, if standard options, templates, and ready-to-use components do not meet your needs, it is still possible to introduce custom code and integrations.
This enables businesses to build highly unique internal tools and automated workflows that correspond to their specific processes.
Let's take a closer look at some of the use cases of Retool that startups can be interested in.
Custom workflow automation
There are a lot of industry-specific Retool's use cases. But some of them are suitable for businesses in any domain.
Automation of repetitive workflows is one of them. Companies can design internal tools that will streamline decision-making processes; tools that will increase the efficiency of data processing and manipulation, and many others.
Automated workflows built with Retool can be initiated by trigger actions (like form submission) or linked to a specific schedule.
Development of custom dashboards and admin panels
One of the most common applications of Retool is the development of dashboards that provide teams with real-time insights. It could be a customer support dashboard that allows representatives to manage accounts, a sales internal tool that will be used to track leads, or any other type of admin panel.
The key purpose of such custom internal tools is to help early-stage startups accumulate, view, and manipulate data with ease.
When building internal tools, companies can also integrate them with external data sources to get access to valuable insights.
Data management and administration
Handling large amounts of data manually can be highly challenging. With Retool, startups can create custom internal tools that will allow even non-technical users to manage records effortlessly.
This platform also works great for building content management systems (CMS). They enable marketing and product teams to update website content without turning to the assistance of professional Retool teams. Additionally, HR and IT specialists can also use Retool to build user management tools, streamline employee access permissions, and perform many other administrative tasks.
Even those businesses that work with highly sensitive data can choose Retool as the platform offers a wide range of security measures, including strong authorization features and audit logs.
Enhancement of financial and payment processes
Finance teams often rely on complex spreadsheets and outdated systems to manage payments, reimbursements, and audits. When you are building a startup, there is no need to bring such legacy solutions to it.
Retool simplifies finance-related tasks by providing billing and invoicing internal tools and dashboards that integrate with payment gateways. It can also automate expense approval workflows. Startups dealing with online transactions can leverage Retool to create fraud detection tools that will detect suspicious activities and mitigate risks.
Improvement of customer service
A lot of startups choose Retool to build internal tools intended for delivering a smooth customer service experience. With this platform, teams can create desk tools that centralize customer interactions, track support tickets, and automate responses.
Of course, that's not a list of cases where Retool can be of great help. To get a better understanding of what other tasks you can perform with this low-code development platform, you visit Retool's official website and study the range of use cases provided there.
What typical problems of early-stage startups can you address with Retool?
The range of Retool customers includes businesses of all types and sizes. This platform provides valuable features for building custom internal tools tailored to the needs of early-stage startups, growing companies, and enterprises.
Let's analyze what Retool can offer to those entities that are just creating their internal processes and need powerful tools for this task.
From limited resources to scalability concerns, startups face a myriad of hurdles that can affect their growth and success. In this section, we are going through seven of the most crucial problems that are commonly encountered by startup owners and that can be solved with good internal tools.
Problem 1: Resource constraints
Startups often start with a small team and limited resources for building internal tools and performing other tasks. Each member wears multiple hats and manages a wide range of responsibilities.
Money is prioritized for essential aspects and product development, leaving less room for improving operational systems. It for sure brings a versatile and agile working environment, but also impedes growth and scalability.
This leads to:
- Increased workload that affects productivity and turnover rates.
- Skill gaps, resulting in inefficiencies and mistakes.
- Stunted growth with no possibility to manage critical tasks on time.
- Delayed investments that will end up in purchasing the wrong software.
- Compromise on quality, meaning less expensive, lower-quality tools, that will not, most likely, meet all the needs.
Problem 2: Scalability issues
Scalability is all about how successfully a business can grow and adapt. With a lack of resources, startups can't manage a lot. But the customer base will probably grow over time. And the existing operational infrastructure may struggle to cope with the demand.
What challenges are on the way?
- With the increase in data volume, the initial systems might not be capable of processing and storing itefficiently.
- Increased demand can lead to longer response times and decreased quality of service, affecting client satisfaction.
- With growth, tool upgrades can be costly and disruptive.
- Implementing new systems often needs advanced technical capabilities, which may be beyond the expertise of a startup team.
Problem 3: Integration challenges
As startups grow, they typically accumulate large volumes of data from various sources. And it is a pretty common practice to collect and sort it using different tools and software platforms.
But managing the data effectively is essential for operational success. Companies can't handle it without smooth integration.
What are the things to be concerned about?
- Data isolation that will make it difficult to get a unified view of business operations or customer interactions.
- Inefficiencies and errors that could happen due to manual data entry.
- Increased operational costs, because of the usage of multiple software.
- Overwhelming data volumes and, as a result, missing out on valuable insights.
Problem 4: Process inefficiencies
There is always a point, when operational processes don't work as well as they are supposed to. But even slight inefficiency hinders productivity and scalability and furthermore affects the whole future of the company.
What difficulties should you be ready for?
- As transaction volumes increase, the likelihood of mistakes and their potential impact also grows.
- Manual processes require significant human input and time – this can slow down operations and reduce overall efficiency.
- It's typically hard to scale up with non-automated processes. As a result, the company might be stuck with no growth without powerful internal tools.
- Automating processes becomes more complex if there is no standard approach to begin with.
- If there's no standardization, the output quality will struggle as well.
Problem 5: Compliance and security
Compliance and security are paramount concerns for startups, especially those operating in industries like healthcare, finance, and education. Failure can lead to legal issues, significant financial penalties, and damage to a company's reputation.
What are the most common challenges?
- Complexity of legal requirements and security measures.
- Frequent changes: keeping up with all the changes and implementing them can be resource-intensive.
- High costs: compliance and security often require significant investment in systems and training.
Problem 6: Technology challenges
Selecting the right technology and internal tools is also important for achieving operational efficiency. The choices made can significantly impact the startup's ability to grow, adapt to new demands, and manage costs.
Companies should be ready for:
- Mismatched solutions, leading to inefficiencies, as well as not desired ROI.
- Integration complexity that might need additional investments.
- Cost-unfriendly solutions.
Problem 7: Customer experience management
Maintaining a consistent level of service can be challenging. The same – with offering solutions that are tailored to customers' individual needs and preferences. But achieving these goals is essential for customer satisfaction.
That's why startups should focus on handling:
- Interaction quality that helps to ensure all members provide the same level of service.
- System overload to overcome slow response times and low customer satisfaction.
- Delivery on expectations that might be challenging, but also is important for growth.
- Privacy concerns, as misuse of customer data can lead to trust issues and legal consequences.
There is no “magic bandage” that will help with all the challenges from above. But thankfully there are some solutions that can take care of the majority of issues described. One of them is Retool. Let's find out how it could ease your life and help to scale and grow.
Why do many early-stage startups choose Retool?
The popularity of Retool among startups is growing. And there is a range of weighty reasons for this.
Reason 1: Cost-effectiveness and support for startups
Retool is not just cost-effective in case of replacing expensive custom software. It also offers pricing tiers to fit various startup sizes and needs.
The company supports new businesses through its Retool for Startups program, which provides special pricing, Retool credits, extended trials, and additional learning resources to help you grow and scale.
We will consider this offer in more detail further in our article.
Challenges solved: ☑ Resource constraints, ☑ Technology challenges.
Reason 2: Scalable infrastructure
Designed to grow with your business, Retool can handle increasing user numbers and data complexity without sacrificing performance. Its adaptability ensures that startups can expand operations without changing their internal tools.
Challenges solved: ☑ Scalability issues.
Here's a real example for you – Finn, a Norwegian tech company that offers car subscriptions. Their team understood that they urgently needed to streamline operations, automate manual tasks, and consolidate customer data.
Implementing new internal tools with Retool led to a 30% increase in efficiency, a 50% reduction in manual workload, and a 40% improvement in scalability.
Reason 3: Seamless integration capabilities
With built-in support for numerous databases, APIs, and third-party services, Retool easily facilitates integration, reducing the complexities and costs. While more complex tasks can be performed solely by specialists with relevant experience, some simple integrations are available even to non-tech users. Moreover, the platform provides relevant learning resources.
Challenges solved: ☑ Integration challenges, ☑ Technology challenges.
That was the case at ThePowerMBA business school. It leveraged Retool to optimize backend operations, automate course management, and enhance content delivery on their educational platform.
What results did Retool bring? A 25% increase in course delivery efficiency, a 40% rise in student engagement, and a 30% improvement in scalability. And still continue to grow.
Reason 4: Custom application building
Retool allows startups to build internal tools and apps tailored to their specific needs. They can cover multitasks, like enforcing standardized processes, ensuring compliance with regulations, maintaining high quality and consistency, and others.
Challenges solved: ☑ Process inefficiencies, ☑ Compliance and security.
Oddbox, a social impact business fighting food waste in UK's farms, decided to build an internal platform with Retool. And the decision was a success.
With the help of the technology, the company improved inventory visibility by 25%, reduction in waste – by 30%, and by 20% increased sustainability in their food delivery service.
Reason 5: Continuous feature updates
Retool is committed to innovation, regularly improving the platform with the new features. This ensures that startups have access to the latest tools that support efficient operations without the need for additional tech investments.
Challenges solved: ☑ Technology challenges.
A real case: U.S.-based financial tech company Ramp decided to test Retool's ability to enhance reporting and tracking processes.
The goal was achieved with a 20% reduction in reporting cycle time, a 30% decrease in manual errors, and a 25% cost savings.
Reason 6: Customer experience tools
Through Retool, companies can create personalized interfaces that will probably enhance customer interaction and satisfaction. This is a crucial competitive advantage for building loyalty.
Challenges solved: ☑ Customer experience management.
Doorstead, a property management platform from San Francisco, actually proved it with a real-life experience.
The company implemented Retool for building their internal operations and reached a 50% reduction in turnaround time for tenant vetting, a 40% increase in maintenance request processing efficiency, and a 20% rise in customer satisfaction.
Special program for startups: How to use it
As we have already mentioned, startups have the possibility to leverage a great discount. They can get access to Retool for one year for free. This special program presupposes that eligible startups will receive $60K in Retool credits for building their internal tools and automating workflows.
To get a chance to use free credits, startups should meet particular requirements:
- They should be founded within the last 10 years.
- They should be bootstrapped, angel-funded, debt-funded, pre-seed, seed, or Series A startups.
- Their raised funds should be less than $10 million in total.
Retool credits won't be available to existing customers on the monthly Team or Business plans. Startup credits can't be used together with any other discounts provided by the platform.
It's also worth mentioning that this special offer also includes $200,000 in perks from the platform's partners like AWS, DigitalOcean, MongoDB, and others.
Retool credits expire after one year. But the startups that participated in this special program will get a 25% discount on their paid plans for the next year.
To participate in a discount program, new Retool users have to submit a form and provide the required details about their business activities.
Conclusion
Retool offers learning resources and a load of solutions for building internal tools, automating workflows, and overcoming operational challenges. It provides early-stage startups with the tools and support needed to drive efficiency and scalability – exactly what companies are seeking when they are just starting their business journeys.
In Akveo, we have years of experience developing custom low-code solutions for startups, middle companies, and enterprises. Our Retool team created PoCs, admin dashboards, internal portals and other platforms to help our clients streamline their operations and scale business in a short period of time.
Check out our portfolio or contact us to get a free consultation on the project you want to launch with Retool.
Streamlining Gifting Marketplace Operations with Retool
Afloat, a gifting marketplace, needed custom dashboards to streamline order management, delivery tracking, and reporting while integrating with Shopify and external APIs.
The solution:
We built two Retool-based dashboards:
- A Retail Partner Dashboard embedded into Shopify for managing orders and store performance.
- An Admin Dashboard for handling deliveries and partner data.
Both dashboards included real-time integration with Afloat's Backend and APIs for accurate, up-to-date data and scalability.
The result: enhanced efficiency, error-free real-time data, and scalable dashboards for high-order volumes.
Billing Automation for a SaaS Company with Low-Code
Our client needed a robust billing solution to manage hierarchical licenses, ensure compliance, and automate invoicing for streamlined operations.
The solution:
We developed a Retool-based application that supports multi-tiered licenses, automates invoicing workflows, and integrates seamlessly with CRM and accounting platforms to enhance financial data management.
The result:
- Achieved 100% adherence to licensing agreements, mitigating penalties.
- Automated invoicing and workflows reduced manual effort significantly.
- Dashboards and reports improved decision-making and operational visibility.
Retool Dashboards with HubSpot Integration
Our client needed a centralized tool to aggregate account and contact activity, improving visibility and decision-making for the sales team.
The solution
We built a Retool application integrated with HubSpot, QuickMail, and Clay.com. The app features dashboards for sorting, filtering, and detailed views of companies, contacts, and deals, along with real-time notifications and bidirectional data syncing.
The result
- MVP in 50 hours: Delivered a functional application in just 50 hours.
- Smarter decisions: Enabled data-driven insights for strategic planning.
- Streamlined operations: Reduced manual tasks with automation and real-time updates.
Lead Generation Tool to Reduce Manual Work
Our client, Afore Capital, a venture capital firm focused on pre-seed investments, aimed to automate their lead generation processes but struggled with existing out-of-the-box solutions. To tackle this challenge, they sought assistance from our team of Akveo Retool experts.
The scope of work
The client needed a tailored solution to log and track inbound deals effectively. They required an application that could facilitate the addition, viewing, and editing of company and founder information, ensuring data integrity and preventing duplicates. Additionally, Afore Capital aimed to integrate external tools like PhantomBuster and LinkedIn to streamline data collection.
The result
By developing a custom Retool application, we streamlined the lead generation process, significantly reducing manual data entry. The application enabled employees to manage inbound deals efficiently while automated workflows for email parsing, notifications, and dynamic reporting enhanced operational efficiency. This allowed Afore Capital's team to focus more on building relationships with potential founders rather than on administrative tasks.
Retool CMS Application for EdTech Startup
Our client, CutTime, a leading fine arts education management platform, needed a scalable CMS application to improve vendor product management and user experience.
The scope of work
We developed a Retool application that allows vendors to easily upload and manage product listings, handle inventory, and set shipping options. The challenge was to integrate the app with the client’s system, enabling smooth authentication and product management for program directors.
The result
Our solution streamlined product management, reducing manual work for vendors, and significantly improving operational efficiency.
Building Reconciliation Tool for e-commerce company
Our client was in need of streamlining and simplifying its monthly accounting reconciliation process – preferably automatically. But with a lack of time and low budget for a custom build, development of a comprehensive software wasn’t in the picture. After going through the case and customer’s needs, we decided to implement Retool. And that was the right choice.
The scope of work
Our team developed a custom reconciliation tool designed specifically for the needs of high-volume transaction environments. It automated the processes and provided a comprehensive dashboard for monitoring discrepancies and anomalies in real-time.
The implementation of Retool significantly reduced manual effort, as well as fostered a more efficient and time-saving reconciliation process.
Creating Retool Mobile App for a Wine Seller
A leading spirits and wine seller in Europe required the development of an internal mobile app for private client managers and administrators. The project was supposed to be done in 1,5 months. Considering urgency and the scope of work, our developers decided to use Retool for swift and effective development.
The scope of work
Our developers built a mobile application tailored to the needs of the company's sales force: with a comprehensive overview of client interactions, facilitated order processing, and enabled access to sales history and performance metrics. It was user-friendly, with real-time updates, seamlessly integrated with existing customer databases.
The result? Increase in productivity of the sales team and improved decision-making process. But most importantly, positive feedback from the customers themselves.
Developing PoC with Low Code for a Tour Operator
To efficiently gather, centralize, and manage data is a challenge for any tour operator. Our client was not an exception. The company was seeking to get an internal software that will source information from third-party APIs and automate the travel itinerary creation process. Preferably, cost- and user-friendly tool.
The scope of work
Our experts ensured the client that all the requirements could be covered by Retool. And just in 40 hours a new software was launched. The tool had a flexible and easy-to-use interface with user authentication and an access management system panel – all the company needed. At the end, Retool was considered the main tool to replace the existing system.
Testing New Generation of Lead Management Tool with Retool
Our client, a venture fund, had challenges with managing lead generation and client acquisition. As the company grew, it aimed to attract more clients and scale faster, as well as automate the processes to save time, improve efficiency and minimize human error. The idea was to craft an internal lead generation tool that will cover all the needs. We’ve agreed that Retool will be a perfect tool for this.
The scope of work
The project initially began as a proof of concept, but soon enough, with each new feature delivered, the company experienced increased engagement and value.
We developed a web tool that integrates seamlessly with Phantombuster for data extraction and LinkedIn for social outreach. Now, the company has a platform that elevates the efficiency of their lead generation activities and provides deep insights into potential client bases.
Building an Advanced Admin Portal for Streamlined Operations
Confronted with the need for more sophisticated internal tools, an owner of IP Licensing marketplace turned to Retool to utilize its administrative functions. The primary goal was to construct an advanced admin portal that could support complex, multi-layered processes efficiently.
The scope of work
Our client needed help with updating filters and tables for its internal platform. In just 30 hours we've been able to update and create about 6 pages. Following features were introduced: add complex filtering and search, delete records, styling application with custom CSS.
Together, we have increased performance on most heavy pages and fixed circular dependency issues.
Creating MVP Dashboard for Google Cloud Users
Facing the challenge of unoptimized cloud resource management, a technology firm working with Google Cloud users was looking for a solution to make its operations more efficient. The main idea of the project was to create an MVP for e-commerce shops to test some client hypotheses. Traditional cloud management tools fell short.
The scope of work
Determined to break through limitations, our team of developers turned Retool. We decided to craft an MVP Dashboard specifically for Google Cloud users. This wasn't just about bringing data into view; but about reshaping how teams interact with their cloud environment.
We designed a dashboard that turned complex cloud data into a clear, strategic asset thanks to comprehensive analytics, tailored metrics, and an intuitive interface, that Retool provides. As the results, an increase in operational efficiency, significant improvement in cost management and resource optimization.
Elevating CRM with Custom HubSpot Sales Dashboard
Our other client, a SaaS startup, that offers collaborative tools for design and engineering teams, was on a quest to supercharge their sales efforts. Traditional CRM systems were limited and not customizable enough. The company sought a solution that could tailor HubSpot to their workflow and analytics needs.
The scope of work
Charged with the task of going beyond standard CRM functions, our team turned to Retool. We wanted to redefine how sales teams interact with their CRM.
By integrating advanced analytics, custom metrics, and a user-friendly interface, our developers provided a solution that transformed data into a strategic asset.
In 40 hours, three informative dashboards were developed, containing the most sensitive data related to sales activities. These dashboards enable our customer to analyze sales and lead generation performance from a different perspective and establish the appropriate KPIs.
Building a PDF Editor with Low-Code
Our client, a leading digital credential IT startup, needed a lot of internal processes to be optimized. But the experience with low-code tools wasn’t sufficient. That’s why the company decided to hire professionals. And our team of developers joined the project.
The scope of work
The client has a program that designs and prints custom badges for customers. The badges need to be “mail-merged” with a person’s info and turned into a PDF to print. But what is the best way to do it?
Our developers decided to use Retool as a core tool. Using custom components and JavaScript, we developed a program that reduced employees' time for designing, putting the data, verifying, and printing PDF badges in one application.
As a result, the new approach significantly reduces the time required by the internal team to organize all the necessary staff for the conference, including badge creation.
